Maud Beelman, the award-winning investigations editor who leads the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, is the keynote speaker for the 13th annual Paul J. Schatt Memorial Lecture.

Beelman will discuss investigative journalism with Walter V. Robinson on Monday, March 11, at 7 p.m. in the Cronkite School’s First Amendment Forum on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. Robinson, who is the Edith Kinney Gaylord Visiting Professor in Investigative Journalism at the Cronkite School, led the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer-Prize winning report on the Roman Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal.

Before joining the Cronkite faculty in January, Beelman was the U.S. investigations editor for The Associated Press. She led a national team of reporters who produced long- and short-term projects, including investigations into sexual assault among children in public schools and on U.S. military bases, police misconduct and medical device safety.

In 1997, she founded the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and led the Washington-based group until 2004. During that time, she helped identify and recruit the world’s leading investigative reporters, oversaw and edited the group’s projects and built collaborations among investigative journalists worldwide. Under her leadership, the group won the first George Polk Award given for online journalism.

In addition, Beelman’s work has been recognized by Investigative Reporters and Editors, Society of Professional Journalists, America Bar Association and Associated Press Media Editors.

“We are delighted Beelman is teaching the next generation of investigative reporters the importance of producing stories that have a real public impact,” said Cronkite Dean Christopher Callahan. “Beelman’s experience and insight as a veteran journalist are qualities that make her an obvious choice to deliver this year’s Paul Schatt Lecture.”

The Cronkite School established the Schatt lecture series in 2007 in honor of former Arizona Republic reporter, editor and columnist Paul J. Schatt, who taught public affairs reporting to Cronkite students for more than 30 years as an adjunct faculty member. The series in his name is supported by an annual gift from The Arizona Republic and an endowment created in Schatt’s memory by his widow, Laura Schatt-Thede.